Wednesday, July 27, 2016

ASPARAGUS AND CHICKEN SALAD WITH BUTTERMILK DRESSING from author @DarylWoodGerber + #giveaway




Fun Giveaway Below!!



From Daryl aka Avery: There's nothing better to cool the palate on a hot day than a refreshing salad. 

Barbecue doesn't always mean using the grill. Being comfortable is important at a barbecue. Don't want to cook? Set out cold foods: cold chicken,  fruit salad, and side dishes you pick up at the deli. Set out chips and sliced cheeses.  Make rainbow fruit kebabs, or skewer brownies and strawberries and marshmallows for dessert.

For some other great tips, check out Pinterest for ideas. Just type in the word barbecue. Here are a few I found that are truly helpful!

  • One woman put condiments and burger toppings in antique mason jars and then she arranged them in an antique Coca Cola crate. 
  • Another put cupcake holders upside down over glasses to keep out the bugs.
  • Another set out a tub of sunscreen and bug spray.
  • Set out a stack of books (I didn't see this on Pinterest - I'm making it up) so your guests have something to read if they aren't in the mood to chat. 
  • Have bubbles for the kids.


no matter what, have fun!

Asparagus and chicken salad with Buttermilk Dressing
Ala Food Network Magazine May 2016

For the Dressing
¼ cup fresh parsley
¼ up fresh tarragon (I substituted basil)
juice of 1 lemon
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
¼ cup buttermilk
¼ cup mayonnaise (I used Best Foods)
¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon each: kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

For the Salad
¼ cup sliced almonds (I did not use; I’m allergic)
8-10 stalks thick asparagus, bottom half peeled and ends trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces
2 heads Bibb lettuce (I used Boston), chopped
1 large bunch watercress, tough stems trimmed (I used Arugula)
6 radishes, thinly sliced
8 ounces skinless boneless smoked chicken, diced (I cooked chicken thighs and did not smoke)
4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
½ cup fresh parsley, chopped
Fresh ground pepper

*I added avocado, 1 full, chopped

Make the dressing: pulse the parsley, tarragon (or basil) lemon juice, and mustard in a food processor to make a coarse paste Add the buttermilk, mayonnaise and olive oil; pulse until smooth. Season with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to use.



Make the salad: prepare a large bowl of salted ice water.



If desired, toast the almonds in a small dry skillet over low heat, about 4 minutes; transfer to a plate and let cool.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the asparagus and cook until just tender, 4 minutes. Drain and transfer to the ice water; let cool. Drain again and pat dry; transfer to a large salad bowl.


Add the lettuce, watercress (or arugula), radishes, chicken, goat cheese, parsley, and half of the almonds. Drizzle with about half of the dressing.  Toss.  Sprinkle with the remaining toasted almonds and serve with the remaining dressing.

*I added avocado when adding the chicken and goat cheese.



TODAY'S GIVEAWAY!



One winner will win his or her choice of a stuffed TIGGER ...OR a Savor the Mystery MUG.  Leave a comment with your email, in case you win (cryptic if you need it to be - I'll figure it out). And tell me:  What is your favorite cold food at a barbecue?


Savor the mystery and say cheese!
Daryl Wood Gerber aka Avery Aames
Tasty ~ Zesty ~ Dangerous!

Friend Daryl and Avery on Facebook
Follow Daryl on Twitter
Follow Avery on Twitter
Follow both of us on Pinterest

Plus check out my website.

GRILLING THE SUBJECT, the 5th Cookbook Nook Mystery, can be pre-ordered.
Coming August 2016!! 
Click here to pre-order.


FOR CHEDDAR OR WORSE, 
the 7th Cheese Shop Mystery.
Came out in February 2016

Click to order.



When a fairytale fantasy night becomes a nightmare, 
Chessa Paxton must run for her life...but will the truth set her free? 
To order: CLICK HERE.

$2.99 in e-books everywhere. Print is available on Amazon.



60 comments:

  1. Great salad recipe! My favorite cold food at a barbecue is sugar-free strawberry jello with homemade whipped cream (please don't judge me, haha). EMS591@aol.com

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  2. What a wonderful recipe, sounds perfect for a hot summer day. So looking forward to your new book!
    cmeier2001@live.com

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    1. Speed Bump (what a cute name) - Great to see you here! Thanks. ~ Daryl

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  3. Thanks for this great recipe...I never thought of combining asparagus and chicken together for a cold salad! Looking forward to the release of "Grilling the Subject". My favourite cold dish at a BBQ is classic potato salad. grace dot koshida at gmail dot com

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  4. This looks really good. I have been making lots of salads since the weather has gotten so unrelentingly hot here!

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    1. AGC ~ salads do make it easier to handle the heat. I agree. ~ Daryl

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  5. That salad looks good. My favorite cold food at a BBQ is cucumber salad. No mayo to worry about and it's light.
    sgiden at verizon(.)net

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    1. Sandy, I like my cucumber salad with shredded sweet onions. ~ Daryl

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  6. Thanks for the recipe it sounds and looks so good,
    Penney penneyw( at)sbcglobal.net

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  7. Loved the recipe. So many ways to adapt it. Thanks for the giveaway & I can't wait for the new book. doward1952@yahoo.com

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    1. Howard, that's the fun thing about salad. You don't have to put in everything that the recipe says - except maybe the dressing. :) ~ Daryl

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  8. You are so right about needing cool foods at a barbecue. It was 105 yesterday and supposed to be 104 today. We noticed that we couldn't even smell anything cooking like we usually can. This is a yummy recipe - anything with asparagus is always good. Thanks for the giveaway.
    sallycootie@gmail.com

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    1. Sally, that's amazing. So hot your senses were on overload. Sigh. My sister said it's 113 in Virginia!! ~ Daryl

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  9. Macaroni salad is my favorite, but I love asparagus!!! saracarver07@gmail.com

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    1. Sara, I've been known to put small bits of asparagus in my macaroni salad. I now use a gluten-free elbow macaroni from Bionaturae or Ronzoni and they seem to hold up really well! ~ Daryl

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  10. I really love a good salad and cold watermelon.
    mommomsworld@yahoo.com

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    1. Yvonne, there's nothing like cold watermelon. I prefer seedless, of course. ~ Daryl PS Those little mini watermelons are packed with flavor!

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  11. I really love a good salad and cold watermelon.
    mommomsworld@yahoo.com

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  12. I love a really good homemade potato salad.
    suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Sue, I'm with you. I prefer an oil and vinegar dressing. My husband always liked the mayo kind. So sometimes I'd prep for the salad and then split the batch in two so we were both happy. :) ~ Daryl

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  13. Thanks for this lovely giveaway. My favorite cold salad is a pasta salad, with cherry tomatoes, pepper and basil. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Traveler, that sounds lovely. Cherry tomatoes are so festive. ~ Daryl

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  14. I love this recipe, we just made one that was very similar but made with green beans. My favorite cold food at a BBQ is any food I eat. I have two little kids so all my food is cold. My husband says pasta salad. utaker555@gmail.com

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    1. Brittany, LOL! That's so true about kids. Got to get their plates ready and by that time, everything is cold. ~ Daryl

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  15. Delectable recipe. I so enjoy orzo salad in the summer. Perfect with cut up cukes, tomatoes and cold salmon. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  16. My favorite cold food at a barbecue is Frito Salad. I also love having cole slaw to turn my barbecue sandwich into a Carolina barbecue sandwich! bobandcelia@sbcglobal.net

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    Replies
    1. Celia, okay, you've stumped me. What is Frito Salad? Sounds fun. ~ Daryl

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  17. Favorite cold food at a BBQ would be potato salad but I'm always up for desserts and dessert at a BBQ, to me, means pie! I have to 2nd your query...what is Frito Salad? dbahn@iw.net

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    1. Dianne, I'm making a peach pie tomorrow. I just can't live through a summer without one. :) ~Daryl

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  18. For a cold food at a BBQ I love potato salad with hard boiled eggs in it. As long as it is kept on lots of ice, I will eat it, but never any other way. I worry too much about tainted food. I also make a wild rice salad that it nice for the summer especially if you have any vegetarian diners. I am not a big basil fan so was happy to see that your dressing was not basil themed. I love tarragon and dill and parsley dressings. Flat leaf parsley is better than basil in many dishes as it doesn't overpower the other ingredients (which is only my opinion perhaps).

    The Tigger is cute, but a mug is far more useful to me, a coffee and tea drinker if I were to win. I am getting a lot more email lately and wonder if it is from leaving my email on various blogs. So, code: Use Google name and add @tmlponline.net or use my FB name or ask Gretchen Archer or Alyssa Maxwell for my email okay?? Thanks so much.
    Great recipe.
    Cynthia

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    Replies
    1. Huh, Cynthia, sorry if this has anything to do with your email, but I doubt it. If you order "anything" online, it seems to generate all sorts of other email. Period. Sigh. I would opt out, but that's just too tough, so I mark stuff as junk. Re: cold food. I agree that anything that could taint, you must keep COLD. I adore basil, but I'm willing to try all other spices. So much fun! ~ Daryl

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  19. My cats, rats, and I would love to welcome a plushie Tigger to our home. He looks like my Mariusz! My favorite cold food would be the fruit salad!

    cozyupwithkathy @ Gmail dot com

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  20. Fabulous recipe, Daryl! Thank you. XO MJ

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  21. Love the recipe Daryl. Sounds really good! I like cold pork and beans with my bbq.

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    1. Cold pork and beans. That's interesting, Mary Jane, but then I like cold pizza and cold lasagna! ~ Daryl

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  22. That dressing sounds wonderful. I really love my mom's potato salad. You would think her being German it would be German potato salad, but it is not even close. Love the book and hope everyone gets it soon. kayt18(at)comcast(dot)net

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    1. Kay, that sounds interesting. What is it that makes it different than German potato salad "dressing"? ~ Daryl

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    2. German potato salad doesn't use mayonnaise, I think. It's an oil and vinegar dressing.

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  23. My mom makes a great macaroni salad without onions, since I hate onions! Thanks for offering this giveaway!! lindaherold999@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Linda, you won by random number generator. I'll be contacting you for your information and your choice. Congrats!

      Delete
  24. Your salad looks great! Asparagus is so tasty. My favorite cold food at a BBQ would be potato salad. Or slices of a small watermelon. You're right, seedless and small is the way to go. nc roessner @ comcast. net
    The Tigger toy is cute, but the mystery cup is right up my alley.

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    1. Nancy, so glad you like it. I really enjoy asparagus. Not everyone does so it's easily replaced with broccoli or string beans, I think. ~ Daryl

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  25. A Tigger or a mug? A Tigger or a mug. Hmm, a Tigger or a mug. I want both! Thanks for the chance to win!

    ElaineE246(at)msn(dot)com

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  26. Besides icy beverages, my favorite cold dishes at a cookout are fruit salad, red potato salad with dill, and a dessert called Rosa marina, which seems to be only a thing in northwestern PA. Yum!
    Thank you for sharing this recipe! I love asparagus more than is probably normal, and this sounds sooo good!

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    1. Amanda, I love a good fruit salad. I squeeze orange juice over it to give it an extra bit of sweetness. ~ Daryl

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  27. I am going to try this recipe at the grocery store, my customers would love it because it is cool and refreshing! You cozie chicks are going to have to stop publishing so many books, it interrupts my work schedule!!

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    1. Stephanie, how fun. I hope your customers DO enjoy it. LOL re: too many books. Yes, we have quite a lot of shelves filled by now. ~ Daryl

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  28. What a wonderful recipe. I really love asparagus, one of my favorite vegetables. Definitely going to make this recipe. Can't wait to read your new release.
    diannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Dianne, lovely to see you here! Thanks for stopping in. ~ Daryl

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  29. Linda H won by random number generator. I'll be contacting you, Linda, for your information. Congrats! And to all the rest of you, don't miss out on my multiple giveaways on my FB author page www.facebook.com/darylwoodgerber AND I've got a huge giveaway on my website to celebrate the release of GRILLING THE SUBJECT. Go to www.darylwoodgerber.com and click on the Savor the Mystery Fan club menu! GOOD LUCK. ~ Daryl

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